Hillspeed’s Leandro Juncos heads to Brands Hatch later this month (23/24 August) aiming for race wins after claiming his best results yet at Silverstone last time out.
The young Argentinean has moved into the top-eight in the championship standings, after a pair of second-place finishes at Silverstone marked his best weekend yet in GB4 machinery.
After finishing on the second step of the podium twice in a row, the 19-year-old believes the mixed conditions that Silverstone offered placed him in a good position.
“Yeah it was a very good weekend, very good. We needed one where we rounded off the weekend without any issues. We didn’t start the best, I think our overall dry pace wasn’t great so the first race was good to maximise what we had and then the rain obviously helped later on, on the Sunday.
“But yeah, just happy overall to get a good weekend. First off, my mistakes meant we never put it together, so to put one together was very good.”
After another weekend where Juncos was able to make up positions from his starting grid position in every race, he believes that confidence is key to his on-track progress.
“Just confidence I think. Obviously I don’t come from racing myself, I was always working in a team, I always played football, so it was a bit of a disadvantage, but I think all of those years of football and coming from a different environment, I think it’s just more of a confidence thing. I really believe in what I can do and I think that’s the main thing.
“I think we always have a good car in the races, we set up very well for the long runs although it’s quite a short race, but yeah, I’m just very confident in myself and before the weekend I already have an idea of what I need to do for the race with the whole package I have.”
Like several drivers on the grid, Juncos comes from a family with a distinct motorsport background, with his father and IndyCar team co-owner Ricardo Juncos present to see his soon deliver a double podium at Silverstone.
“It was good, he came for the first one and brought me good luck with the podium so now to have two podiums is good; he’ll have to come more often! It’s always important his support is next to none and he’s always been by my side and believed in me.
“I think I do surprise him as well, but yeah, it’s always good to have him there and supporting and interacting with the team as well, where he’s on top of things, so it’s amazing to have the support.”
With a crucial round coming up at Brands Hatch, Juncos feels he’s in a good place heading to the famous Grand Prix circuit.
“I actually feel very confident. My qualifying has been better, I think at Snetterton I qualified P3. We don’t get to drive on the GP circuit until qualifying, so I think that’s going to suit us. I think the tougher conditions and less track time is always going to favour me, so I’m very confident.
“I think we can fight for the pole and hopefully we get that and if we’re inside two or three spots we can get a good spot and hopefully get two wins.”
